2
PROTECTED AREAS GAP ASSESSMENT, MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND LEGISLATION ON MARINE PROTECTED AREAS This publication has been prepared within the project “Gap Assessment of protected areas and
development of marine Protected areas” financed by GEF, Ministry of Environment, Forestry
and Water Administration and UNDP. The project is part of the GEF/UNDP PoWPA in the
frame of Convention on Biodiversity.

The publication was prepared under auspices of Prof. Dr. Lefter Kashta and the project team:

THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION RELATED TO MARINE CONSERVATION IN ALBANIA AND THE PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND APPROACH TO THE RELEVANT EUROPEAN LEGISLATION. ......................................................................................................................................................117

6
IHM
Institute of Hydrometeorology
IMO
International Maritime Organisation of the United Nations
IUCN
International Union for Conservation of Nature
K-V-MPA
Karaburuni-Vlora Marine Protected Area
LAC
Limits of Acceptable Change
LG

Local Government
LOSC
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
LPA
Landscape Protected Area
MAP
Mediterranean Action Plan
MAFPC
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Protection of Consumers
MARPOL
Convention on Prevention of Pollution from Ships
MB
Management
Boards
MDGs
Millennium Development Goals
MEFWA
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Water Administration
METAP
Mediterranean Action Plan
MKOE
MillieuKontakt Ost Europa
MNS
Museum of Natural Sciences
MN
Montenegro
MoAF
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
MoE
Ministry of Environment
MoLG
Ministry of Local Government
MoTA&T
Ministry of Territorial Adjustment and and Tourism
MP
Management Plan
MPA
Marine Protected Area
NBSAP
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
NCNB
National Council for Nature and Biodiversity
NCSA
National Capacity Self-Assessment
NCTA
National Council of Territorial Adjustment
NGO
Non Governmental Organisation
NSSED
National Strategy for Socio-Economic Development
PA

8
Preface The objective of the project was to implement some of key recommendations relating to
country’s participation in the Programme of Work on Protected Areas which included the need
for a comprehensive ecological gap assessment for the protected area system, and establishment
of a policy environment and knowledge on marine protected areas.

Despite the sea presence, there has not been yet a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Albania, but
only national parks considering mainly terrestrial ecosystems. Marine protected areas are a
practical way of conserving marine biodiversity, maintaining the productivity of marine
ecosystems and contributing to the economic and social welfare of human communities.
Establishment of MPAs and no-take zones will be beneficial for fisheries management as it will
seek to make fisheries sustainable in the long term. In addition, ecotourism development and
local economy would benefit in the short and long run (this will include cost benefit analysis and
monitoring).

The project addressed key gaps of the PA system in Albania in general (by identifying and
planning to cover the key biological gaps), and more specifically marine areas (as this has been
the weakest element of the PA system so far). The efforts also elaborated the key priority actions
related to the working program on PA that Albanian environment authorities have identified.

The project team of national and international experts has prepared the following reports:
The gap assessment of the system of PAs in Albania (Genti Kromidha);
The assessment of marine biodiversity and potential MPAs (Prof. Lefter Kashta & Dr. Sajmir
Beqiraj); Proposal for a Marine protected Area in Albania (Dr. Virginie Tilot);
The legislation framework for PA and marine conservation (Ermira Koçu and Nienke van der
Burgt with contribution from Paul Goriup and Stephen Hodgson);
The accompanying maps have been compiled by Albana Zotaj.

The following document represents consolidated material which integrates in a more practical
way the contributions of the project team that are mentioned above and more specifically: :
•

Evidences the highlighted issues related to gap assessment of the PA system in Albania;
•

Describes the situation on marine biodiversity conservation and MPAs in Albania;
•

Describes the biodiversity, natural and cultural values of the proposed potential MPAs
and illustrates the fulfillment of the relevant criteria for MPA proclamation;
•

Evidences the highlighted issues related to the proposal for the first MPA in Albania;
•

Evidences the gaps of legislation related to marine conservation and highlights the
proposals for improvement and approach to the relevant European legislation.